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Hi Opt 1 Method of Card Counting

Short for Highly Optimum,the Hi Opt 1 system was
first developed by Charles Einstein in 1968. It is sometimes
also known by another name, The Einstein Count. Hi
Opt 1 is similar to the Hi-Lo
Count developed by Edward
O. Thorp, with one distinct difference: 2's and Aces are
valued at 0. It does require a higher level of counting skill,
though, making it a better option for more advanced blackjack
players.

While the Hi Opt 1 method can provide greater mathematical
accuracy and a higher edge for the player, it can be more
difficult to master because it requires a second side-count
of the Aces that have been played.

How Hi Opt 1 Works

As stated above, the Hi Opt 1 method assigns a value
of 0 to 2's and Aces. The values are as follows:

Hi-Lo Card Point Values

2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9
10 A

0 +1 +1 +1
+1 0 0 0
-1 0

This means a running count starts at 0, and would be
calculated as in the example below:

1st card is a 10, so the count is -1.
2nd card is a 4, so the count becomes 0.
3rd card is a 2, so the count stays 0.

Because the Aces are excluded from the running count,
a side count is necessary to keep track of the Aces that
have been played. This extra count makes Hi Opt 1 a little
more difficult, but does offer the opportunity for more
strategy variations. Hi Opt 1 is also a balanced system,
meaning that the count should return to 0 by the end of
the deck.

The Ace side-count makes up for the lack of change in
the running count when an Ace is dealt. The more Aces
that have been played, the lower a player's advantage.
Keeping track of the Aces and the running count can make
the Hi Opt 1 system a great asset to a skillful blackjack
player.

Of course, the best way to master the Hi Opt 1 method,
like any card
counting system, is practice! Grab a single deck of
cards and go through it several times, keeping the count
in your head. Speed will come with time. When you feel
confident in your counting skills and can count through
a whole deck in about 40 seconds, you're ready for the
casino!

The Hi Opt 1 method also needs a true count when its
used in multiple deck games. To calculate the true count,
take the running count and divide it by the number of
decks left to be dealt. Most of the time, the number of
decks is an estimation, but you can practice estimating
by looking at the size of one deck, then two decks, and
so on. Check the discard pile at the table when you're
playing, decide how many decks have been dealt so far,
and subtract that from the total decks used in the game.
This means, in a six-deck game, with a running count of
12 and four decks left to be dealt, the true count would
be 12 divided by 4, or 3.

When starting out, the best betting strategy is a basic
unit scheme. One unit is equal to the table minimum.

Betting
units

True Count2
Decks6-8
Decks

0 or less
1 unit
1 unit

+1
2 units
2 units

+2 3
units
4 units

+3 4
units
8 units

+4 5
units
10 units

+5 or more 6
units
12 units

Once you've become better acquainted with the Hi Opt
1 method, you can begin side-counting the Aces in play
and adjusting your betting based on that count in addition
to the true count. The more Aces left in the deck, the
better the advantage for you!

Books About the Hi Opt 1 Method

You can find out more about the Hi Opt 1 method in the
book The World's Greatest Blackjack Book by Julian
Braun and Lance Humble. Not only do they cover the
Hi Opt 1 method, but they refined the system for the book's
first publication in the 1970s.